U.S. patent application number 12/954051 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for system and method for risk optimized, spatially sensitive preventive maintenance scheduling for asset management.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Andrew J. Davenport, Arun Hampapur, Shilpa N. Mahatma, Lexing Xie.
Application Number | 20120130759 12/954051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46065179 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120130759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davenport; Andrew J. ; et
al. |
May 24, 2012 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RISK OPTIMIZED, SPATIALLY SENSITIVE
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT
Abstract
A preventative maintenance method and a system for estimating
the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters such
as failure history combined with causative factors like weather and
independent external risk factors such as vandalism and risk of
flooding. The present invention may further have a system for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
such as weather and independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding having a location based
asset/service failure risk estimator, an external risk estimates
database for feeding and an integrated failure risk database, the
external risk estimates database feeding the integrated failure
risk database.
Inventors: |
Davenport; Andrew J.;
(Brooklyn, NY) ; Hampapur; Arun; (Norwalk, CT)
; Mahatma; Shilpa N.; (Mohegan Lake, NY) ; Xie;
Lexing; (White Plains, NY) |
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
46065179 |
Appl. No.: |
12/954051 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.12 ;
707/802; 707/E17.005 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/0631 20130101;
G06Q 10/0635 20130101; G06Q 10/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/7.12 ;
707/802; 707/E17.005 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/00 20060101
G06Q010/00; G06F 17/30 20060101 G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method for preventative maintenance comprising: estimating the
risk of failure of an asset; combining the estimation with
causative factors; determining a preventative maintenance schedule;
and storing the preventative maintenance schedule.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising estimating
the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters such
as failure history.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 further comprising combining
the intrinsic parameters with causative factors such as weather and
independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding.
4. A system for estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on
intrinsic parameters, such as failure history combined with
causative factors such as weather and independent external risk
factors like vandalism and risk of flooding, the system comprising:
a location based asset/service failure risk estimator; an external
risk estimates database for feeding; and an integrated failure risk
database, the external risk estimates database feeding the
integrated failure risk database.
5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the location based
asset/service failure risk estimator further comprises an elevation
based flooding risk element.
6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein the location based
asset/service failure risk estimator further comprises a vandalism
risk element.
7. The system as defined in claim 6 further comprising an asset
database, a maintenance database and environment factors database
all connected to the intrinsic failures element.
8. The system as defined in claim 7 further comprising an intrinsic
failures element also connected to integrated failure risk
database.
9. The system as defined in claim 8 further comprising a location
based asset/service failure risk estimator.
10. The system as defined in claim 9 further comprising a tree
damage risk element that feeds external risk estimates
database.
11. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions,
which, when executed, enables a computer system operating for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
such as weather and independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding, the system comprising a location
based asset/service failure risk estimator, an external risk
estimates database for feeding and an integrated failure risk
database, the external risk estimates database feeding the
integrated failure risk database for implementing a method for
preventative maintenance comprising: estimating the risk of failure
of an asset; combining the estimation with causative factors;
determining a preventative maintenance schedule; and storing the
preventative maintenance schedule.
12. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising estimating
the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters such
as failure history.
13. The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising combining
the intrinsic parameters with causative factors such as weather and
independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding.
14. A method for deploying a system for estimating the risk of
failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters, such as failure
history combined with causative factors such as weather and
independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding, the system comprising a location based asset/service
failure risk estimator, an external risk estimates database for
feeding, and an integrated failure risk database, the external risk
estimates database feeding the integrated failure risk database,
the method comprising: estimating the risk of failure of an asset;
combining the estimation with causative factors; determining a
preventative maintenance schedule; and storing the preventative
maintenance schedule.
15. The method as defined in claim 14 further comprising estimating
the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters such
as failure history.
16. The method as defined in claim 15 further comprising combining
the intrinsic parameters with causative factors such as weather and
independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding.
17. A system for estimating the risk of failure of an asset based
upon intrinsic parameters, such as failure history combined with
causative factors like weather and independent external risk
factors like vandalism and risk of flooding, the system comprising:
a location based asset/service failure risk estimator; an external
risk estimates database for feeding; and an integrated failure risk
database, the external risk estimates database feeding the
integrated failure risk database.
18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the location based
asset/service failure risk estimator further comprises an elevation
based flooding risk element.
19. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein the location based
asset/service failure risk estimator further comprises a vandalism
risk element.
20. The system as defined in claim 19 further comprising an asset
database, a maintenance database and environment factors database
all connected to the intrinsic failures element.
21. The system as defined in claim 20 further comprising an
intrinsic failures element also connected to integrated failure
risk database.
22. The system as defined in claim 21 further comprising a location
based asset/service failure risk estimator.
23. The system as defined in claim 22 further comprising a tree
damage risk element that feeds external risk estimates database.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related in some aspects to
commonly owned and co-pending application entitled "INFRASTRUCTURE
ASSET MANAGEMENT", having Attorney Docket No. END920100156US1, and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. [TO BE PROVIDED], filed on [TO BE
PROVIDED], and commonly owned and co-pending application entitled
"A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAILURE ASSOCIATION ANALYSIS", having
Attorney Docket No. END920100158US1, and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. [TO BE PROVIDED], filed on [TO BE PROVIDED].
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One aspect of the present invention provides for a method
and a system for estimating the risk of failure of an asset based
on intrinsic parameters, such as failure history or causative
factors like weather and independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding. The failure risk is combined with
location information to generate maintenance schedules which are
optimal with reference to failure risk and inspection cost.
[0003] There is a need to provide for large scale preventive
maintenance in a easy, computerized manner for large assets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] There is a problem in preventive maintenance. Preventive
Maintenance is a critical and costly operation in large scale asset
based business. Today, preventive maintenance is carried out at
regular time intervals on all assets (meaning that, as an example,
all 10,000 fire hydrants in Washington, D.C., need to be checked
twice a year), irrespective of the risk of failure. Given the
magnitude of the task, it is very expensive and by not factoring
failure risk into the inspection process it is sub-optimal from the
perspective of minimizing outages.
[0005] What is needed is a system and method for estimating the
risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters, such as
failure history combined with causative factors and independent
external risk factors like vandalism and risk of flooding.
[0006] Therefore, there exists a need for a solution that solves at
least one of the deficiencies of the related art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention may comprise a system and method for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
like weather and/or independent external risk factors such as
vandalism and risk of flooding. The failure risk estimation is
combined with location information to generate maintenance
schedules that are optimal with reference to failure risk and
inspection cost.
[0008] The present invention may further comprise a method for
preventative maintenance comprising estimating the risk of failure
of an asset, combining the estimation with causative factors,
determining a preventative maintenance schedule and storing the
preventative maintenance schedule.
[0009] The present invention may further comprise a system for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
such as weather and independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding, the system comprising a location
based asset/service failure risk estimator, an external risk
estimates database for feeding, and an integrated failure risk
database, the external risk estimates database feeding the
integrated failure risk database.
[0010] The present invention may further comprise a
computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, which, when
executed, enables a computer system operating for estimating the
risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic parameters, such as
failure history combined with causative factors such as weather and
independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding, the system comprising a location based asset/service
failure risk estimator, an external risk estimates database for
feeding and an integrated failure risk database, the external risk
estimates database feeding the integrated failure risk database for
implementing a method for preventative maintenance comprising
estimating the risk of failure of an asset, combining the
estimation with causative factors, determining a preventative
maintenance schedule and storing the preventative maintenance
schedule.
[0011] The present invention may further include a method for
deploying a system for estimating the risk of failure of an asset
based on intrinsic parameters, such as failure history combined
with causative factors such as weather and independent external
risk factors like vandalism and risk of flooding, the system
comprising a location based asset/service failure risk estimator,
an external risk estimates database for feeding, and an integrated
failure risk database, the external risk estimates database feeding
the integrated failure risk database, the method comprising
estimating the risk of failure of an asset, combining the
estimation with causative factors, determining a preventative
maintenance schedule and storing the preventative maintenance
schedule.
[0012] The present invention may further comprise a system for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based upon intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
like weather and independent external risk factors like vandalism
and risk of flooding, the system comprising a location based
asset/service failure risk estimator, an external risk estimates
database for feeding, and an integrated failure risk database, the
external risk estimates database feeding the integrated failure
risk database.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These and other features of this invention will be more
readily understood from the following detailed description of the
various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a data processing system suitable for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters such as failure history combined with causative factors
like weather and/or independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a network that may incorporate an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a system of the present invention for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
like weather and/or independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of the present invention for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters, such as failure history combined with causative factors
like weather and/or independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding.
[0018] The drawings are merely schematic representations, not
intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The
drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the
invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the
scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention, which meets the needs identified
above, provides for a method and a system for estimating the risk
of failure of an asset based on: 1) intrinsic parameters, such as
failure history combined with causative factors such weather; and
2) independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding.
[0020] The asset management software of the present invention
provides insight for enterprise assets, their conditions and work
processes, for better planning and control. [0021] Manages asset
deployment, specifications, monitoring, calibration, costing and
tracking from a single system; [0022] Provides enterprise asset
management software for long and short-term planning, preventive,
reactive and condition-based maintenance, schedule management,
resource optimization and key performance indicators; [0023] Plans
inventory to meet maintenance demand, making the right parts
available at the right location when needed; [0024] Manages vendor
contracts with comprehensive support for purchase, lease, rental,
warranty, rate, master, blanket and user-defined contracts; and
[0025] Aligns service levels with business objectives by defining
service offerings and establishing service level agreements
(SLAs).
[0026] The present invention may be used in airports, rail and
transit, marine, ports and terminals, hospitality such as hotels,
casinos and amusement parks, water and waste water management,
mining/metals/minerals, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, food
and beverage, electronics and industrial, automotive, retail, life
sciences, federal (civil and defense) and state, NASA, healthcare,
education, banking and securities, media and cable,
telecommunications, insurance, and service providers.
[0027] System 100, such as Data Processing System 102 shown in FIG.
1, suitable for storing and/or executing program code of the
present invention may include System 104 having at least one
processor (Processing Unit 106) and Risk of Failure of an Asset
Processing Unit 111 coupled directly or indirectly to Memory 110
through System Bus 112. Memory 110 may include local memory (RAM
130) employed during actual execution of the program code and cache
memories (Cache 132) that provide temporary storage of at least
some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must
be retrieved from Bulk Storage 118, connected to Scheduling
Constraints Database 140, during execution. Memory 110 may further
include External Risk Estimates Database 142 for collecting and
storing the external risks estimates of an asset based on: 1)
intrinsic parameters, such as failure history combined with
causative factors such weather; and 2) independent external risk
factors like vandalism and risk of flooding.
[0028] Input/output or I/O devices (External Peripherals 116)
(including but not limited to keyboards, displays (Display 120),
pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to System 104 (see FIG. 1),
either directly or indirectly through a network (see FIG. 2)
through intervening I/O controllers (I/O interface(s) 114).
[0029] Network adapters (Network Adapter 138 in FIG. 1) may also be
utilized in System 200 to enable data processing units (as shown in
FIG. 2, Data Processing Unit 202) to become coupled through network
connections (Network Connections 206, 208) to other data processing
units (Data Processing Unit 204), remote printers (Printer 212)
and/or storage devices (Storage 214) or other devices through
intervening private and/or public networks (Network 210).
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates System 300 for estimating the risk of
failure of an asset based on: 1) intrinsic parameters, such as
failure history combined with causative factors such as weather;
and 2) independent external risk factors like vandalism and risk of
flooding. System 300 has a Location Based Asset/Service Failure
Risk Estimator--Elevation Based Flooding Risk element 302. It
further has Location Based Asset/Service Failure Risk
Estimator--Vandalism Risk element 304. Both are connected to an
External Risk Estimates database 314 that feeds an Integrated
Failure Risk Database 316. System 300 further has Asset Database
306, Maintenance Database 308 and Environment Factors Database 310
all connected to Intrinsic Failures Risk Estimator 312. Intrinsic
Failures Risk Estimator 312 is also connected to Integrated Failure
Risk Database 316. Location Based Asset/Service Failure Risk
Estimator--Tree damage Risk Element 328 feeds External Risk
Estimates Database 314.
[0031] Integrated Failure Risk Database 316 is connected to
Scheduler 318. Also connected to Scheduler 318 is Scheduling
Constraints Database 324 which maintains data such as skills, labor
cost, availability; equipment; and contractual limits/regulations.
Also feeding Scheduler 318 is Spatial Constraint Generator 320.
Work Order Database 322 feeds Spatial Constraint Generator 320.
Scheduler 318 loads Risk Optimized, Spatially Sensitive Preventive
Maintenance Schedule database 326.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates one method 400 of the present invention.
At 402, the method estimates the risk of failure of an asset. At
404, the method combines the estimation with causative factors. At
406, the next step is to determine a preventative maintenance
schedule. At 408, the next step is to store the preventative
maintenance schedule. At 410, the next step of the method is to
estimate the risk of failure of an asset based on intrinsic
parameters such as failure history. And finally, at 412, the last
step is to combine the intrinsic parameters with causative factors
such as weather and independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding, as an example.
[0033] It should be understood that the present invention is
typically computer-implemented via hardware and/or software. As
such, client systems and/or servers will include computerized
components as known in the art. Such components typically include
(among others) a processing unit, a memory, a bus, input/output
(I/O) interfaces, external devices, etc.
[0034] While shown and described herein as a system and method for
estimating the risk of failure of an asset based on: 1) intrinsic
parameters--like failure history combined with causative factors
like weather; and 2) independent external risk factors like
vandalism and risk of flooding. For example, in one embodiment, the
invention provides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes
computer program code to enable a system for collecting and
maintaining historical party reputation data and for using the
historical party reputation data to calculate an access decision
rating and recalculating the access decision rating when the
historical party reputation data has changed has a reputation
updater for updating a reputation. To this extent, the
computer-readable/useable medium includes program code that
implements each of the various process steps of the invention. It
is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computer
useable medium comprises one or more of any type of physical
embodiment of the program code. In particular, the
computer-readable/useable medium can comprise program code embodied
on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a
compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data
storage portions of a computing device, such as memory and/or
storage system (e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random
access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a data signal
(e.g., a propagated signal) traveling over a network (e.g., during
a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).
[0035] In another embodiment, the invention provides a
computer-implemented method for estimating the risk of failure of
an asset based on: 1) intrinsic parameters--like failure history
combined with causative factors like weather; and 2) independent
external risk factors like vandalism and risk of flooding. In this
case, a computerized infrastructure can be provided and one or more
systems for performing the process steps of the invention can be
obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and
deployed to the computerized infrastructure. To this extent, the
deployment of a system can comprise one or more of (1) installing
program code on a computing device, such as computer system from a
computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices
to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or
modifying one or more existing systems of the computer
infrastructure to enable the computerized infrastructure to perform
the process steps of the invention.
[0036] As used herein, it is understood that the terms "program
code" and "computer program code" are synonymous and may mean any
expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of
instructions intended to cause a computing device having an
information processing capability to perform a particular function
either directly before or after either or both of the following:
(a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b)
reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, program
code can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software
program, component software/a library of functions, an operating
system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or
I/O device, and the like.
[0037] In another embodiment, the invention provides a business
method that performs the process steps of the invention on a
subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service
provider, such as a solution integrator, could offer to deploy a
computer infrastructure for collecting and maintaining historical
party reputation data and for estimating the risk of failure of an
asset based on: 1) intrinsic parameters--like failure history
combined with causative factors like weather; and 2) independent
external risk factors like vandalism and risk of flooding. In this
case, the service provider can create, maintain, and support, etc.,
the computer infrastructure by integrating computer-readable code
into a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the
computing system is capable of performing the process steps of the
invention for one or more customers. In return, the service
provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a
subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can
receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more
third parties.
[0038] The foregoing description of various aspects of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and
variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention as
defined by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *